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constant session； on the ground that； having so little to do； it
would be in danger of becoming an object of derision to the press
and peoples of the world。
We were all glad to find； upon the arrival of the London 〃Times；〃
that our arbitration project seemed to be receiving extensive
approval； and various telegrams from America during the day
indicated the same thing。
It looks more and more as if we are to accomplish something。 The
only thing in sight calculated to throw a cloud over the future
is the attitude of the German press against the whole business
here； the most virulent in its attacks being the high Lutheran
conservativeand religious！journal in Berlin； the
〃Kreuz…Zeitung。〃 Still； it is pleasant to see that eminent
newspaper find； for a time； some other object of denunciation
than the United States。
June 3。
In the afternoon drove to Scheveningen and took tea with Count
Munster and his daughter。 He was somewhat pessimistic； as usual；
but came out very strongly in favor of the American view as
regards exemption of private property on the high seas。 Whether
this is really because Germany would derive profit from it； or
because she thinks this question a serviceable entering wedge
between the United States and Great Britain； there is no telling
at present。 I am sorry to say that our hopes regarding it are to
be dashed； so far as the present conference is concerned。 Sundry
newspaper letters and articles in the 〃Times〃 show clearly that
the English Government is strongly opposed to dealing with it
here and now； and as France and Russia take the same position；
there is no hope for any action； save such as we can take to keep
the subject alive and to secure attention to it by some future
conference。
CHAPTER XLVII
AS PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN DELEGATION AT THE PEACE CONFERENCE
OF THE HAGUE： III1899
June 4。
We have just had an experience which 〃adds to the gaiety of
nations。〃 Some days since； representatives of what is called 〃the
Young Turkish party〃 appeared and asked to be heard。 They
received； generally； the cold shoulder； mainly because the
internal condition of Turkey is not one of the things which the
conference was asked to discuss； but also because there is a
suspicion that these 〃Young Turks〃 are enabled to live in luxury
at Paris by blackmailing the Sultan； and that their zeal for
reform becomes fervid whenever their funds run low； and cools
whenever a remittance comes from the Bosphorus。 But at last some
of us decided to give them a hearing； informally； the main object
being to get rid of them。 At the time appointed； the delegation
appeared in evening dress； and； having been ushered into the
room； the spokesman began as follows； very impressively：
〃Your Excellencies； ve are ze Young Turkeys。〃
This was too much for most of us； and I think that； during our
whole stay at The Hague thus far； we have never undertaken
anything more difficult； physically； than to keep our faces
straight during the harangue which followed。
Later； we went with nearly all the other members of the
conference to Haarlem； in a special train； by invitation of the
burgomaster and town council； to the 〃Fete Hippique〃 and the
〃Fete des Fleurs。〃 We were treated very well indeed； refreshments
being served on the grand stand during the performances； which
consisted of hurdle races； etc。； for which I cared nothing；
followed by a procession of peasants in old chaises of various
periods； and in the costumes of the various provinces of the
Netherlands； which interested me much。 The whole closed with a
long train of fine equipages superbly decorated with flowers。
Discussing the question of the immunity of private property； not
contraband of war； on the high seas； I find that the main
argument which our opponents are now using is that； even if the
principle were conceded； new and troublesome questions would
arise as to what really constitutes contraband of war； that ships
themselves would undoubtedly be considered as contraband； since
they can be used in conveying troops； coal； supplies； etc。
June 5。
Having given up the morning of the 5th mainly to work on plans of
arbitration； mediation； and the like； I went to the meeting； at
the 〃House in the Wood；〃 of the third great committee of the
conferencenamely； that on arbitration。
The session went off satisfactorily； our duty being to pass upon
the report from the subcommittee which had put the various
propositions into shape for our discussion。 The report was
admirably presented by M。 Descamps； and； after considerable
discussion of details； was adopted in all essential features。 The
matters thus discussed and accepted for presentation to the
conference as a whole related：
（1） To a plan for tendering 〃good offices。〃
（2） To a plan for examining into international differences。
（3） To the 〃special mediation〃 plan。
The last was exceedingly well received； and our delegation has
obtained much credit for it。 It is the plan of allowing any two
nations drifting into war to appoint 〃seconding nations；〃 who；
like 〃seconds〃 in a duel； shall attempt to avert the conflict；
and； if this be unsuccessful； shall continue acting in the same
capacity； and endeavor to arrest the conflict at the earliest
moment possible。
Very general good feeling was shown； and much encouragement
derived from the fact that these preliminary matters could be
dealt with in so amicable and business…like a spirit。
Before the meeting I took a long walk in the garden back of the
palace with various gentlemen； among them Mr。 van Karnebeek； who
discussed admirably with me the question of the exemption of
private property from seizure on the high seas。 He agreed with me
that even if the extreme doctrine now contended fornamely； that
which makes ships； coal； provisions； and very nearly everything
else； contrabandbe pressed； still a first step； such as the
exemption of private property from seizure； would be none the
less wise； leaving the subordinate questions to be dealt with as
they arise。
I afterward called with Dr。 Holls at the house of the burgomaster
of The Hague； and thanked him for his kindness in tendering us
the concert last Saturday； and for various other marks of
consideration。
On the whole； matters continue to look encouraging as regards
both mediation and arbitration。
June 6。
In the morning Sir Julian Pauncefote called； and again went over
certain details in the American； British； and Russian plans of
arbitration； discussing some matters to be stricken out and
others to be inserted。 He declared his readiness to strike out a
feature of his plan to which from the first； I have felt a very
great objectionnamely； that which； after the tribunal is
constituted； allows the contesting parties to call into it and
mix with it persons simply chosen by the contestants ad hoc。 This
seems to me a dilution of the idea of a permanent tribunal； and a
means of delay and of complications which may prove unfortunate。
It would certainly be said that if the contestants were to be
allowed to name two or more judges from outside the tribunal；
they might just as well nominate all； and thus save the expense
attendant upon a regularly constituted international court chosen
by the various governments。
Later in the day I wrote a private letter to the Secretary of
State suggesting that our American delegation be authorized to
lay a wreath of silver and gold upon the tomb of Grotius at
Delft； not only as a tribute to the man who set in motion the
ideas which； nearly three hundred years later； have led to the
assembling of this conference； but as an indication of our
gratitude to the Netherlands Government for its hospitality and
the admirable provision it has made for our work here； and also
as a sign of good…will toward the older governments of the world
on the occasion of their first meeting with delegates from the
new world； in a conference treating of matters most important to
all nations。
In the evening to Mr。 van Karnebeek's reception； and there met
Mr。 Raffalovitch； one of the Russian secretaries of the
conference； who； as councilor of the Russian Emp